[Trending Now] De Lima Says Duterte's Immunity is Useless in International Criminal Court

Following the pronouncement of Senator De Lima about filing a case against President Duterte to test his presidential immunity against suits. According to the senator, some of the charges she's going to file are violation of anti-graft, violation of conduct of public officials, disbarment, and civil actions for damages. 

However, if none of these work, De Lima will be filing a case in the International Criminal Court or ICC.

"The ICC can always assume jurisdiction if they find enough sufficient basis to do so," De Lima said at a forum on extrajudicial killings and human rights at Miriam College. "I do believe na karamihan diyan are still really police or agents of the police so its systematic, its state-inspired, if not State-sponsored. Pag napatunayan 'yan, presidential immunity does not apply."she stated last Friday.

This is after ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda issued a statement regarding the developments in the Philippines and to assess whether it is a must to begin a preliminary investigation.

"Let me be clear: any person in the Philippines who incites or engages in acts of mass violence including by ordering, requesting, encouraging or contributing, in any other manner, to the commission of crimes within the jurisdiction of the ICC is potentially liable to prosecution before the Court,"Bensouda said. 

Meanwhile, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar has earlier announced that the President is willing to submit himself to any investigation.

Source: TNP , CNNPhilippines